Welsh Secretary Stephen Crabb says a day of reckoning is approaching for Welsh Labour

Secretary of State for Wales Stephen Crabb MP speaks during the Welsh Conservative Party Conference at the SWALEC Stadium in Cardiff (Image: Matthew Horwood)

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Welsh Secretary Stephen Crabb has declared that a day of reckoning is approaching for Welsh Labour.

In a speech to Welsh Conservatives conference at the Swalec Stadium in Cardiff, the MP for Preseli Pembrokeshire said many of the factors leaving Labour staring at “electoral disaster” in Scotland are in place in Wales.

“Labour has turned its back on Wales – and for that there is a day of reckoning fast approaching,” he said.

Much of his speech turned his fire on Labour leader Ed Miliband, saying he didn’t have a plan for Wales and has barely appeared here.

Mr Crabb said: “One of the things which is sending a shudder of fear down the backs of the Labour Party in London and here in Cardiff right now is the way that support for Labour has collapsed in Scotland so spectacularly.

“After decades of arrogantly taking people for granted, Labour is staring at an electoral disaster in Scotland.

“Yes politics in Scotland is very different, but so many of the same factors are in place in Wales.

“The arrogance, the taking voters for granted after years of one party rule, the lack of ambition, the absence of a positive constructive vision, and – what really infuriates me – the sheer complacency and lack of urgency about standards in vital public services

“Just putting your hands up and saying – as Carwyn Jones did – ‘well we took our eyes off the ball on education’ is just not good enough.

“That is insulting to Wales... and we will hold Welsh Labour to account for that.”

During the speech Mr Crabb appeared to borrow Plaid Cymru’s English moniker when he said: “Yes, we are a truly national party – a party of Wales.”

Asked in interview, he denied trying to annoy the party.

Mr Crabb said: “Not at all. Part of the key of the revival of the Welsh Conservative party over the last ten years was the deliberate attempt we made to demonstrate our pro-Welsh credentials.”